Gallery One History

In the fall of 1967, Study Club (an Ellensburg women’s group) sponsored an art exhibit as part of the year-long celebration of Ellensburg’s Centennial. From that came the idea to form an art gallery in Ellensburg. After many hours of work by community volunteers, the newly-named Ellensburg Community Art Gallery was opened on August 29, 1968, at 306 N. Pine in a space shared with architect Wayne White. In February, 1972, the Gallery moved to an upstairs location at 408 1/2 N. Pearl.

Eveleth Green was the Gallery Director for the next 30 years (with Edith Connolly as her very competent assistant). In 1994, the Gallery’s Board of Trustees changed the name to Gallery One. In 1997, the Gallery was able to purchase the Stewart building where it had occupied the second floor for twenty-five years.

In 2001, under Director Mary Frances, the building was completely renovated. After the renovation, Gallery One was able to use the entire building which includes a gift gallery, exhibition galleries on the main floor and mezzanine, as well as the top floor Eveleth Green Gallery, classrooms and artist studios. An elevator made the entire building ADA accessible. A grand reopening was celebrated in 2003.

Gallery One Visual Arts Center is a nonprofit organization that relies on community involvement and donations to keep its doors open. In addition to rotating exhibits of contemporary art, Gallery one offers a variety of quarterly classes, an art after school program, a gift store featuring regional artisans, a full ceramics studio available for rent and classes, inexpensive studio spaces for artists and facility rentals for the community.